Posted on 05/18/2006 8:47:15 PM PDT by ClancyJ
Each of us has ideas on what should be done on the immigration problem and the government is having problems working out such a complex issue. So - why not use the abilities of the FreeRepublic community as a "think tank" to resolve some of the problems faced in Immigration Reform?
OhioWfan had a great thread earlier, The First Entirely Positive - "How Do We Help Solve the Illegal Immigration Problem?" Thread in which many varied ideas were presented. We need these ideas and others grouped together where the pros and cons can be discussed, and solutions will work themselves out.
Now, this again is a "problem solving thread". So, needless to say, please limit comments to respectful discussions, no personal attacks, on the President or other posters and please do not waste our time with the continual "cute" but worthless comments to show machoism, hate, threats, etc. This is an "idea mining thread" and there are plenty of threads on FreeRepublic where the posters can exchange rants, government insults, great one-liners, pictures, etc.
President Bush presented a 5-point plan for reform in his White House address. So, we can just start with that and use our own "think tank" to come up with workable solutions. You may have the perfect solution for one segment and another poster has a suggestion of how to solve another part on one of the other threads. Should we come up with a wide variety of solutions, I will consolidate a list.
There will be five threads, one for each of the President's five objectives of comprehensive immigration reform in order to sort out the different areas of reform. Use them as a starting point to discuss solutions whether the same as he suggests or not.
Come on, give us your ideas and we can discuss.
The Five Points (summarized from President Bush's speech on immigration found on whitehouse.gov):
1 end the anchor baby policy
2 end welfare benefits for non-citizens
3 end subsidized health care for non-citizens
4 swift and harsh jailtime for employers of illegals
5 build a 1951 mile wall from the Pacific to the Gulf
6 allow non-citizens to cross into Mexico with impunity
7 overthrow the current Mexican regime and install a non-corrupt, capitalistic government
Adding retinal or ear scans.
#1 Secure the border! Build that 3 tier fence along the entire length of the border. Add more checkpoints? Fine! Add at least those 6,000 new Border Patrol agents, probably more.
#2 Remove the incentive to enter illegally. Impose severe fines on companies found to employ illegal immigrants. $50,000 per illegal? $100,000? Heavily tax money earned illegally before it is sent back other countries.
#3 LASTLY, establish the Guest Worker program. Set up offices in the US and in Mexico and other countries. US companies must show they tried and could not hire a citizen or legal resident before registering with a Guest Worker office here. Potential guest workers register with an office in their country. Workers and jobs are matched and temporary work visa's issued. Cross the border legally.
There is only one reason why some are so insistent that the legislation be "comprehensive" and deal with the border and the guest worker program together. That is because they know the guest worker plan they want to pass would never pass on its own. They hope the opponents of the guest worker program would want the border security enough to vote for the bill anyway.
Plug the leak first! Then start bailing!
I hate to risk appearing less than brilliant or informed, but I don't see any signs that either the President or the majority in the Senate give a tinker's dam what any of us think, although some members of the House do seem to care. My personal experience in phone calls to the offices of my REPUBLICAN Senators (Frist and Alexander) was pretty much, "Get lost, chump." They've lost me as a voter.
ILLEGAL ALIENS
I know it is silly - but my off the wall ultimate solution of taking over Mexico and making it one of the U.S. states tempts me more and more.
We would get the rich oil resources
We would instigate our legal system into the corruption run wild Mexico society
It would solve the mess we are in now.
Just a little of the normal rattling from the liberals but - hey, we are being overrun by Mexico, why would it be any different for us to take them over?
We are paying for their society anyway - we should also get the tax revenue from the rich of that country.
I know - I know - most ridiculous idea of the day.
I agree - disheartening to only have the resource of calling our representatives and complaining.
But - it could help our cause if we had worked out effective immigration ideas, smoothed out the problem areas and had a better suggestion as we complained.
Wow - great work. This kind of information is exactly what is needed to fix this system. A rational investigation of problems/solutions/results.
I don't agree with this part and some others as well but when a program is researched, investigated and thoroughly thought through as to results by those not using political gain as the major goal, I am more easily swayed.
"7. Compile biometric information on Illegals, and declare that they will be permanently ineligible for citizenship."
Why? Because the ones you are penalizing might really be great people who are illegal solely because they have to feed a family. Hunger is a great motivator.
Also, illegals are generally not educated in our laws, or in fact are uneducated people just fleeing the situation in Mexico. When arriving, if they prove to be worthwhile citizens, I don't believe in having them unduly prevented from considering America their real home.
As long as there were provisions to prevent citizenship to the criminal element, terrorist element but allow a ladder eventually with our restrictions, I feel it would be fairer.
You are nicer than me - I was thinking of an invasion and military takeover. No vote needed.
If their government cannot provide for its people although one of the richest countries in the world and instead must support the efforts of their illegals to invade America to rob from our wealth - that appears to me to be a "soft invasion of our country".
And, since we cannot come up with a way to stop the flow - we just make them one of the states and instigate our laws to clean up the corruption there and bring about an effective state government able to provide for its people.
Problem solved. Few miffed egos, but - hey, we don't intend to be brutal to those people, we intend to give them the glories of America which apparently they desperately seek as the flow indicates.
And the wealthy corrupt ones might learn that you keep your corruption in your own borders.
(I know - too radical and a waste of time after I said - don't waste the time of serious problem solvers here).
It has grown to its current level from (1) reason:
>>>>> our unwillingness to enforce our laws.
To cure the situation:
1. tell the espaldas there will be long term consequences from being here illegally
2. Demonstrate (above)
Well I must say your Immigration Reform Program is "pithy".
I'll be back at some point later to add my 'two cents.'
Thanks for this effort. Cooler heads and rational minds WILL win the day at FR.
(Be prepared to herd cats. ;)
Didn't know you spoke w/ a lisp !
I suggest a triple heavy-duty chain link fence, with the middle one being ELECTRIC.
That way, the outer fences protect stupid people from stumbling upon the electric fence and getting hurt.
But if someone is dumb enough to challenge the middle fence, he or she will get a nasty shock, strong enough to render dizzy or unconscious but not enough to kill.
***Of course the fences would have trip alarms to notify border patrol in case someone touches or otherwise tries to climb.
**I'm not sure if the electric fence could be compromised by someone wearing a rubber insulated suit. If anyone knows such matters, post away.
Forget one sarcasm tag and suddenly you are Hitler!
Sorry, I thought the "Now for the Rational idea" line was a good indicator that the Kill Em All approach was not seriously meant.
What? You expected a fellow FReeper to not overreact? Sheesh! ;-)
"Still - I don't see an end to the "cash" work. And, I just can't personally see that they are going to be willing to return. Hope there will be strong deportation procedures or exit strategies. This looks like a big problem area but at least we will know who they are and their background."
Monday evening President Bush gave several items that would be musts for someone here illegally to "pay their debt to society". He did not really address those who are here who do not turn themselves in, those with criminal backgrounds, etc. I could be convinced of his plan if he also addressed those that continued mocking our system. I think deportation is part of the answer to that. Along with deportation, I support, and have recommended, that anyone who is deported should automatically lose any option to become a citizen of this country. Ever.
I think these 2 items together might make some think before coming here, might turn a few back home, or will get more of them to come out of hiding.
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